Cleaning device for a mower cutting chamber
A washing device is provided for removing debris from an underside of a mower having a multi-chamber cutting deck. The device includes a mounting apparatus allowing the device to be attached to a flange of the deck. Connected to the mounting apparatus is an assembly for dispersing liquid such as water and delivering the water to all portions of the underside of the deck. To accomplish this delivery, the assembly includes first and second liquid dispersion plates attached with each other and also connecting with the mounting apparatus to allow the delivery of water therethrough. Provided in one of the plates is a channel having divided end portions which elevate water upon contact so as to lift the water over an included cutting blade. Coupled with this plate is yet another plate enabling connection of the dispersion assembly to the deck and also providing a vent between the two plates. Creation of this vent then allows an emission of water reaching across the width of each of the included chambers. Interaction between an elevated distribution of water reaching across the width of the deck together with simultaneous engagement of the blades results in a swirling effect permitting water to reach the entirety of the deck underside.
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1. Field of the Invention
The current invention relates to mower cutting decks having one or more cutting chambers, and more specifically, to an apparatus for removing debris from an underside of the chamber or chambers.
2. Description of Related Art
Mower decks having one or more cutting chambers surrounding a rotatable cutting blade are typically used to provide grounds care by both individuals and professional servicers. Such care ordinarily includes the cutting of lawns in a variety of conditions and often in situations where the grass is wet. The cutting of wet grass gives rise to the problem of the clippings sticking to the underside of the cutting chamber as well as the downwardly extending walls which enclose the chamber. The accumulation of this moistened grass tends to create several notable problems. First, the clippings sometimes fall from the chamber in clumps on the newly cut lawn, thereby deteriorating its appearance. Second, in mowers having discharge chutes, clogging of the chutes hampering delivery of clippings to a collection bag is often a problem requiring disassembly of various parts to remove the collected debris. Third, grass accumulated on the inside of the chamber interferes with the flow of clippings capable of leaving the chamber tending to disrupt the mower's even cutting pattern. Fourth, buildup of wet clippings presents a potential for deterioration of metal chambers due to rust. Fifth, clippings which adhere to an inside of the chamber are sometimes the source of an unpleasant odor disrupting the usual storage place of the mower.
In an attempt to address the removal of the accumulated debris referenced above, the prior art has offered a common solution to clean the underside surfaces of a cutting chamber. The solution involves injecting a cleaning agent, such as water, into the chamber while the blades are or are not engaged. To do this, what has been suggested is an apparatus including a port to which a spray nozzle, of varying design(s), is attached. When the port is positioned on an outside surface of the chamber, the nozzle is inserted through a single opening placed on the top surface or in a side surface of the cutting chamber. After being positioned through the opening, the nozzle is mounted above the cutting blade. Water is then supplied to the chamber by an ordinary garden hose connected to the port and thus, the nozzle. Dependent upon the particular design of the nozzle and upon engagement or non-engagement of the mower blade, water is introduced into the cutting chamber. Distribution of the water can then be assisted by rotation of the blades, if desired to create a scouring effect and thereby clean the underside surfaces.
This solution, however, requires the use of multiple hoses and/or connections when a user desires to wash the underside surfaces of more than one chamber simultaneously. Utilizing such a system of multiple connections may lower water pressure capable of being delivered to the chambers and thereby, result in ineffective washing of the chamber. With this solution, the user is required to connect the hose to each port separately in order to enable the cleaning of the multi-chamber cutting deck. Accordingly, providing a design intended to clean only a single chamber can result in an unwanted expenditure of time, effort, and money since it will be necessary to undertake the cleaning of each chamber separately.
Thus, there exists a need to provide a means to clean a multi-chamber cutting deck simultaneously, effectively and which can easily be made integral with the deck.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONTo enable a user to simultaneously wash more than one cutting chamber at a time, there is provided a multi-port washing device. The structure of this device is designed with liquid dispersing vents which deliver a cleansing agent, such as water, across the width of each cutting chamber and above the blade disposed therein. As the water is dispersed into the chamber, an engaged cutting blade circulates the water within the chamber thereby creating a centrifugal effect permitting a scouring of the underside surface of the chamber or chambers.
Mounted to the cutting chamber is an angled bracket having a fitting to which a water supply, such as an ordinary garden hose, is to be attached. Connected to the fitting and the bracket is a tube positioned substantially flush with an outside side surface of the chamber. At another end of the tube there is secured a mounting plate which couples the tube with a liquid dispersion assembly provided adjacent a lower edge of a front flange of the chambers to deliver water to the underside surfaces of the cutting chamber or chambers.
This dispersion assembly is constructed to direct streams of water past both sides of the blade spindle and also, above the blade. The structure of the assembly consists of two plates secured to one another. One of the plates is flat while the other has a channel disposed therein. As water enters into the assembly from the tube, it is directed by the channel to end portions having points where the channel, itself, elevates in height. As water moves along these elevated surfaces, it enters a vent created by the compression of the flat plate against the channel. Thereafter, while passing through the vent and upon exit therefrom, the water is forced against a bottom surface of the flat plate. Contact with the flat plate causes the water to spread into a fanned stream of water emitted from the vent. The stream is further separated due to a division formed on the surface of the channel and located at each of the end portions. This separation permits the water to be split into two distinct flows which are directed toward either side of a spindle to which the blade is attached. Pressured at an ordinary rate such as that used in a home or garden environment, the stream reaches across the width of the cutting chamber thereby contacting a side surface of the chamber opposite that at which it had entered. After flowing across the chamber, water discharged by the assembly and which contacts the opposite side is then deflected downwardly to be impacted by the cutting blade. Upon contact with the blade and the airflow generated by the blade, the supply of water is distributed throughout the inside of the chamber and onto its underside surfaces.
It is contemplated that the above washing device will be constructed as a feature available with cutting decks placed on the retail market. With this construction, each of the angled bracket, tube, and attached mounting plate will be welded together as a one-piece construction. However, it has been recognized that a user may desire to purchase the washing device on an after-market basis with the intention of retrofitting the device to an already purchased deck. In an effort to satisfy this need, the washer has been alternatively designed with flexible tubing which is adjustably secured to the bracket and plate. Providing this option enables versatility in the placement of the washer relative to the outside surface of the deck, an aspect important to those users who may have decks with structure which would otherwise not permit mounting of a design having a fixed overall dimension. Accordingly, with either form of the washing device, a user is permitted to simultaneously wash the underside surface of a cutting deck having one or more cutting chambers.
Looking first to
As shown in
To allow the flow of water into the assembly 62, first plate 64 is formed with a bore 86, as seen in
Shown in
Washing of the underside surfaces 26 of the chambers 14 is accomplished, preferably, in the following manner. First, as seen in
As seen in
With the instant invention, there is provided an easily assembled washing device permitting a user to clean the underside surfaces of one or more cutting chambers of a mower deck. A still further advantage is found in a form of the device which can be quickly adapted to a mower on an after-market basis. From among these advantages, the user is enabled to reduce the amount of time and effort necessary to obtain the completion of either personal and/or professional grounds-care maintenance.
While the present invention has been described in conjunction with a specific embodiment, it is understood that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations which fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A washing device for an underside of a mower cutting deck, the device comprising:
- a bracket for attaching the device to the deck, the bracket having a plurality of holes therein;
- a means for attaching the bracket with the deck and which extends through one of the holes of the bracket;
- a hose fitting inserted in another of the holes of the bracket; and,
- a means for transferring liquid, the means having a flexible elongated portion having first end attached to and communicating with the fitting to conduct liquid therethrough and a second end including a mounting plate adjustably connected with the elongated portion, the mounting plate having plurality of holes, one of which is a liquid flow hole accommodating liquid therethrough;
- wherein the means for transferring liquid is mated to the fitting by a first coupler;
- wherein the elongated portion is mated to the mounting plate by a second coupler;
- further comprising a pair of liquid dispersion plates, the pair having connection holes therein enabling attachment of each of the pair to the other and the mounting plate, the pair also having mounting holes enabling attachment to the underside;
- wherein the connection holes and the holes of the mounting plate are aligned;
- wherein the dispersion plates and the mounting plate are attached to each other by a bolt and a nut;
- wherein each of the dispersion plates has a central opening communicating together with the flow hole of the mounting plate to conduct liquid therethrough; and
- wherein one of the dispersion plates is formed of metal and the other of the dispersion plates is formed of plastic.
2. A washing device for an underside of a mower cutting deck, the device comprising:
- a bracket for attaching the device to the deck, the bracket having a plurality of holes therein;
- a means for attaching the bracket with the deck and which extends through one of the holes of the bracket;
- a hose fitting inserted in another of the holes of the bracket; and,
- a means for transferring liquid, the means having a flexible elongated portion having first end attached to and communicating with the fitting to conduct liquid therethrough and a second end including a mounting plate adjustably connected with the elongated portion, the mounting plate having plurality of holes, one of which is a liquid flow hole accommodating liquid therethrough;
- further comprising a liquid dispersion assembly attached to the mounting plate;
- wherein the assembly includes first and second directional members attached to each other and which are attachable to the underside of the cutting deck, each of the members having a central opening communicating with the flow hole of the mounting plate to conduct liquid therethrough;
- wherein the first directional member is positioned intermediate the mounting plate and second directional member; and
- wherein the second directional member has a channel extending along a longitudinal axis thereof.
3. The device as recited in claim 2 wherein a cavity is formed at a midpoint of the channel.
4. The device as recited in claim 3 wherein the bottom surface of the cavity is substantially even with the bottom surface of the second directional member.
5. The device as recited in claim 4 wherein at least three sides of the channel extend upwardly from the bottom surface in a smooth progression.
6. The device as recited in claim 5 wherein a first side of the cavity has a V-shape configuration inverted relative to a longitudinal centerline of the second directional member and a second side of the cavity has a semi-ovular configuration.
7. The device as recited in claim 6 wherein third and fourth sides of the cavity route liquid to end portions of the channel.
8. The device as recited in claim 7 wherein the end portions maintain an increasing rate of slope.
9. The devise as recited in claim 8 wherein the end portions are separated by a divider integral with the channel so as to cause a split of liquid contacting the end portions.
10. The device as recited in claim 9 wherein the attachment of the first and second directional members provide an orifice at the end portions through which liquid may be emitted.
11. A washing device for an underside of a mower cutting deck, the device comprising:
- a bracket for attaching the device to the deck, the bracket having a plurality of holes therein;
- a means for attaching the bracket with the deck and which extends through one of the holes of the bracket;
- a hose fitting inserted in another of the holes of the bracket;
- a means for transferring liquid, the means having an elongated portion having first end attached to and communicating with the fitting to conduct liquid therethrough and a second end including a mounting plate, the mounting plate having a plurality of holes, one of which is a liquid flow hole accommodating liquid therethrough;
- a liquid dispersion assembly attached to the mounting plate;
- wherein the assembly includes first and second directional members attached to each other and which are attachable to the underside of the cutting deck each of the members having a central opening communicating with the flow hole of the mounting plate to conduct liquid therethrough;
- wherein the first directional member is positioned intermediate the mounting plate and second directional member; and
- wherein the second directional member has a channel extending along a longitudinal axis thereof.
12. The device as recited in claim 11 wherein a cavity is formed at a midpoint of the channel.
13. The device as recited in claim 12 wherein the bottom surface of the cavity is substantially even with the bottom surface of the second directional member.
14. The device as recited in claim 13 wherein at lest three sides of the channel extend upwardly from the bottom surface in a smooth progression.
15. The device as recited in claim 14 wherein a first side of the cavity has a V-shape configuration inverted relative to a longitudinal centerline of the second directional member and a second side of the cavity has a semi-ovular configuration.
16. The device as recited in claim 15 wherein third and fourth sides of the cavity route liquid to end portions of the channel.
17. The device as recited in claim 16 wherein the end portions maintain an increasing rate of slop.
18. The device as recited in claim 17 wherein the end portions are separated by a divider integral with the channel so as to cause a split of liquid contacting the end portions.
19. The device as recited in claim 18 wherein the attachment of the first and second directional members provide an orifice at the end portions through which liquid may be emitted.
20. A washing device for an underside of a mower cutting deck, the device comprising:
- a bracket for attaching the device to the deck, the bracket having a plurality of holes therein;
- a means for attaching the bracket with the deck and which extends through one of the holes of the bracket;
- a hose fitting inserted in another of the holes of the bracket;
- a means for transferring liquid, the means having an elongated portion having first end attached to and communicating with the fitting to conduct liquid therethrough and a second end including a mounting plate, the mounting plate having a plurality of holes, one of which is a liquid flow hole accommodating liquid therethrough;
- a liquid dispersion assembly attached to the mounting plate;
- wherein the assembly includes first and second directional members attached to each other and which are attachable to the underside of the cutting deck, each of the members having a central opening communicating with the flow hole of the mounting plate to conduct liquid therethrough;
- wherein the attachment of the first and second directional members provide an orifice through which liquid may be emitted; and
- wherein the first directional member is formed of metal, the second directional member is formed of plastic and the liquid is water.
21. A mower cutting deck, comprising:
- a) at least one cutting chamber having an aperture positioned in the middle of a top surface thereof and a depending surrounding skirt;
- b) a spindle placed through the aperture and mounted to the chamber;
- c) a blade mounted on an end of the spindle and within the chamber; and,
- d) a liquid dispersion assembly mounted to an underside of the chamber and including first and second plates engaged with each other the second plate having a channel to control the flow of liquid therethrough so as to project such flow above the blade, the channel having a midpoint at which a cavity, having a bottom surface, is formed where liquid enters the channel after having passed through the first plate.
22. The device as recited in claim 21 wherein the bottom surface of the cavity is substantially even with a bottom surface of the second directional member.
23. The device as recited in claim 22 wherein at least three sides of the channel extend upwardly from the bottom surface in a smooth progression.
24. The device as recited in claim 23 wherein a first side of the cavity has a V-shape configuration inverted relative to a longitudinal centerline of a second plate and a second side of the cavity has a semi-ovular configuration.
25. The device as recited in claim 24 wherein third and fourth sides of the cavity route liquid to end portions of the channel.
26. The device as recited in claim 25 wherein the end portions maintain an increasing rate of slope.
27. The device as recited in claim 26 wherein the end portions are separated by a divider integral with the channel so as to separate the flow of liquid contacting the end portions.
28. The device as recited in claim 27 wherein the engagement of the first and second plates provides an orifice through which liquid may be emitted.
29. The device as recited in claim 28 wherein the liquid exits the orifice in two individual fans of liquid.
30. The device as recited in claim 29 wherein the fans contact a portion of the chamber opposite that at which they enter.
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- John Deere, Tondeuses Automotrices EuroPro, of pp. 1-4, see all, date of publication Mar. 1997, published in Germany.
- Castelgarden, tcj 92, see p. 1 of 1, date of publication unknown, published in Europe.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Jun 20, 2000
Date of Patent: Jun 28, 2005
Assignee: Deere & Company (Moline, IL)
Inventors: Christopher Scott Thorman (Beaver Dam, WI), Ronald Paul Holland (Fox Lake, WI)
Primary Examiner: Robert E. Pezzuto
Assistant Examiner: Alicia Torres
Application Number: 09/597,069